xuanfa utah dharma center

Gesang Suolang Rinpoche, Zeng De

Gesang Suolang Rinpoche (Margaret Esterman) was born in Brooklyn, NY in 1954. For almost forty years she has co-owned and operated an independent book publishing company, Great River Books, with her husband Mark Esterman.

In the mid 1990’s she met her first teacher of Buddhism, Rev. Seikan Hasegawa, a Zen Master of the Rinzai school. She received priest ordination from Rev. Hasegawa in 1998. She later studied with Dennis Genpo Merzel, a Zen Master of the Soto school.

In August of 2008 Gesang Suolang attended a lecture in Salt Lake City about H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III given by His disciple, Ven. Zhaxi Zhuoma Rinpoche. Gesang Suolang was amazed by the accomplishments of this Buddha and she wanted to learn more about H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III and also hear His teachings. In Taos, New Mexico, Gesang Suolang heard Ven. Zhaxi Zhuoma Rinpoche read an English translation of a Discourse by H.H Dorje Chang Buddha III and was struck by its brilliance and power. Over the course of a few months, she traveled to many locations in the Western states to hear the wonderful Discourses of the Buddha Master.

In January of 2011 a Commission of Holy Virtuous Ones From Around the World Respectfully Invited by the International Buddhism Sangha Association to Seek and Recognize, formally recognized Gesang Suolang as a reincarnated rinpoche. Soon after, she opened the Xuanfa Utah Dharma Center so others in Salt Lake City could have the opportunity to take refuge in the True Buddha-dharma of Sakyamuni Buddha, hear the marvelous teachings of H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III and receive transmissions of Buddha-dharma practices.

In January of 2017 Gesang Suolang received her certification of Zeng De, Blue Button Grade Two.